Stained-Glass Window Effect

Stained-Glass Window Effect is a Term coined by British journalist and psychic researcher William Stead (1849–1912) to describe how psychic perception can be influenced by the subconscious mind. Stead attended numerous séances and was able to discover his own ability for automatic writing. Drawing on his own experiences he came to the conclusion that the subconscious mind stains and distorts every piece of information that passes through it to the waking self, much as a stained-glass window superimposes colours, patterns and shades upon the white light that passes through it.

According to Stead, the stained-glass window effect can be seen in psychic perception when information that is received psychically is influenced by the receiver’s subconscious attitudes, predispositions and prejudices. Stead believed that all psychically received information is suppressed or altered often without the receiver knowing it is happening.